KakaoBank Advances KRW-Pegged Stablecoin Development Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
KakaoBank has transitioned from exploratory research to active engineering for its Korean won-pegged stablecoin, marking a pivotal step in institutional crypto adoption. The digital bank, part of South Korea's Kakao conglomerate, has begun hiring blockchain specialists following August's announcement of a cross-affiliate task force for stablecoin issuance and custody.
The initiative gained political tailwinds under President Lee Jae-myung's administration, which advocates for regulated digital asset integration. Local media reports reference the project as "Kakao Coin," though regulatory hurdles persist as Korean authorities report record suspicious crypto transactions in 2025.
This development positions KakaoBank as the first major Korean financial institution to engineer a bank-backed stablecoin, contrasting with global counterparts like JPMorgan's JPM Coin. The MOVE coincides with Kakao's broader Web3 ambitions through its Klaytn blockchain network.